HEALTH, WEALTH AND LIVING WELL...

Not Your Ordinary Sauna…

An infrared sauna, or far-infrared sauna is a type of sauna that uses light to create heat. The “far” describes where the infrared waves fall on the light spectrum. A traditional sauna uses heat to warm the air, warming your body. An infrared sauna heats your body directly without warming the air around you.

People gravitate towards saunas because they cause reactions, such as vigorous sweating and increased heart rate, similar to exercising. An infrared sauna produces these results at lower temperatures than does a regular sauna, so people who can’t take the higher temperatures of a conventional sauna can use an infrared one.

So what are the benefits of an infrared sauna?

Relaxation/Stress Relief

An infrared sauna will surround your body with relaxing heat, relaxing your muscles and mind. Studies show that high levels of stress impact our brains. The many stresses of the mind are never-ending. Neuroscientists have found that chronic stress can even cause differences in grey and white matter in the brain, as well as the size and connectivity of the amygdala. High stress levels can even change the neuron count in your brain.

The American Institute of Stress estimates that 75 to 90% of all visits to primary care physicians are for stress-related problems. Long-term stress can cause increased blood pressure, weight gain and weakening of the immune system.

Detoxification

While it’s normally an unappealing indication that you’ve been exercising or you’re just hot, sweating actually is good for you. It’s one of the body’s safest and most natural ways to heal and maintain good health.

“Detoxification is important because it strengthens the body’s immune system and helps the body’s biochemical processes function efficiently so that we are better able to digest the nutrients in our foods. Detoxification has also been shown to be helpful with colitis, chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, auto-immune disease, immune deficiency states, autism, ADD and ADHD.”

– Dr. Rachel West

The whole point of sauna detoxification is to rid your body of built up toxic substances that can lead to a variety of different illnesses. Ridding the body of these toxins through a natural sauna detox may help relieve symptoms, prevent future illness and increase overall health and vitality.

Weight Loss

The heat generated by an infrared sauna will cause your core temperature to increase, which can also lead to an increased heart rate — the same increase in heart rate that you experience when exercising. When your body has to work harder to lower your core temperature or keep up with an increased heart rate, your body will burn more calories, resulting in weight loss. An article, titled Effect of Sweating, in the Journal of the American Medical Association concluded that a 30-minute infrared sauna session could burn roughly 600 calories.

Improved Circulation

As the heat from infrared saunas increases your core body temperature, your circulation will increase along with it. Consistent infrared sauna sessions, especially in the middle-infrared level, can stimulate blood flow, improve muscle recovery, and decrease pain and inflammation after intense exercise. This can also help with pain relief.

Regular infrared sauna use has been shown to significantly stimulate blood flow, even after your health sauna session is completed. Who needs cardio anyway?

Skin Purification

Cold & Flu

The infrared’s radiant heat will stimulate circulation, rev up the production of white blood cells and rally your immune system’s response to invaders. All that action will make your body a much less hospitable environment for germs to grow – and a great place for them to die.